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College of Liberal Arts and Sciences University of Florida

Distance Learning Master’s Degrees

Please note that all successful Master’s applicants are accepted into the M.L. (non-thesis) program. Students may apply to transfer to the M.A. (thesis) program after completion of their first year of courses. Contact Dr. Brubaker for details.  N.B.  The M.L. degree does NOT put you at a disadvantage for applying to the Ph.D. program, as long as you have a good writing sample (20-25 pp.) to submit with your Ph.D. application.

I. Master of Latin (M.L.)

Course Requirements

  • At least 30 credits beyond the bachelor’s degree, including:
    • Latin Prose Composition (3 credits)
    • Five seminars (i.e., 15 credits of coursework in classes other than independent or directed study)
    • Participation in at least two Summer Latin Institutes

Comprehensive Examinations

  • Any student who fails to pass a comprehensive examination on the third attempt is subject to dismissal from the program.

 A two-hour examination, based on the ML/MA Reading List. The examination will present the student with four passages (two in prose, two in poetry) selected from the reading list. The student will translate three of the four passages. This exam may be taken at UF or at a remote location under the supervision of an approved proctor.  Please see the Classics Graduate Distance Program’s site in Canvas (through e-Learning(opens in new tab)), for more details, including old exams.

A two-hour written examination and a one-hour oral examination, based on the ML Literature, History and Culture Reading List [scroll down on Reading Lists page]. The written portion of this exam may be taken at a remote location under the supervision of an approved proctor. Then, after receiving a ‘pass’ on the written portion, the student must come to UF for the oral exam, administered by a supervisory committee of two faculty members.  Please see the Classics Graduate Distance Program’s site in Canvas (through e-Learning(opens in new tab)), for more details, including old exams.

II. M.A. in Latin

Course Requirements

  • At least 30 credits beyond the bachelor’s degree, including:
    • Latin Prose Composition (3 credits)
    • Four seminars (i.e., 12 credits of coursework in classes other than independent or directed study)
    • Participation in at least two Summer Latin Institutes

Comprehensive Examination & Thesis

A two-hour examination, based on the ML/MA Reading List. The examination will present the student with four passages (two in prose, two in poetry) selected from the reading list. The student will translate three of the four passages. This exam may be taken at UF or at a remote location, under the supervision of an approved proctor.  Please see the Classics Graduate Distance Program’s site in Canvas (through e-Learning(opens in new tab)), for more details, including old exams.

Any student who fails to pass a comprehensive examination on the third attempt is subject to dismissal from the program.

  • Thesis Research (LNW 6971, at least 6 credits (contact Dr. Brubaker to register).
  • Please see the Classics Graduate Distance Program’s site in Canvas (through e-Learning(opens in new tab)), for more details about writing the thesis, including links to the Graduate Academic Calendar, Editorial Office guidelines, and a peer writing support group of distance students working on theses and dissertations.
  • The student will submit the thesis to the supervisory committee, consisting of a director and at least one additional member, and will present a public oral defense of the thesis at UF, according to university regulation.
  • N.B.: specially since the thesis must be submitted early in the semester to meet the Editorial Office deadlines, M.A. students will very likely accrue more than the 30 credits required to graduate, and will very likely take at least three years to complete their coursework and thesis.

Petition to switch to M.A. program from M.L. program

  • This should be submitted at the end of the first year of coursework.  N.B.: We strongly discourage the M.A. option, especially as it does not create an advantage for applying to the Ph.D. program, as long as the student has a writing sample (20-25 pp.) to submit with the Ph.D. application.
  • The petition should include a brief description of the desired thesis project, an introductory bibliography, and the name of a faculty member who has agreed to direct the thesis project.  Submit the petition in writing (2-3 pages) to Dr. Brubaker.